Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Derby Theatre are set to stage the première of The Great Gatsby, a new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel by Elizabeth Newman. This production marks the 100th anniversary of the novel’s first publication and will transport audiences back to the Roaring Twenties.
Directed by Derby Theatre’s Artistic Director Sarah Brigham, The Great Gatsby will run at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 27 June until 25 September, before transferring to Derby Theatre from 3 until 25 October.
Set in the summer of 1922, the story unfolds in the West Egg district of Long Island. Nick Carraway, newly arrived from the Midwest, meets his enigmatic neighbour Jay Gatsby, who throws lavish parties every night in his opulent mansion. Gatsby, a self-made millionaire with a mysterious past, is desperate to reunite with his lost love, Daisy Buchanan.
A bond forms between Nick and Gatsby, revealing a poignant story of unfulfilled dreams and the relentless pursuit of an impossible happiness. As the narrative progresses, Gatsby’s passionate quest for Daisy becomes entangled with themes of love, betrayal, and the American Dream. Daisy, torn between Gatsby and her husband Tom, faces heart-wrenching choices that culminate in a tragic finale.
Elizabeth Newman, the adaptor and former Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, said:
“It is a great privilege to be adapting The Great Gatsby for two extraordinary theatres like Derby Theatre and Pitlochry Festival Theatre. To live in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s world has been a privilege. It’s been a world of intrigue, fun, passion, pain and glamour. He has created a truly extraordinary tale that has withstood the test of time because of its power and unwavering resonance to now be regarded by many as one of the great American classics.”
Sarah Brigham, Director and Artistic Director of Derby Theatre, added:
“I’m really excited to be directing this stylish new adaptation. Elizabeth Newman’s reworking of the classic novel will transport audiences to the drama and opulence of the Roaring Twenties. A company of actor musicians will bring both the Jazz Age and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless tale to life in a way that is both true to the original story and fresh for modern audiences. The themes of class, longing, corruption and obsession are as relevant today as ever and this searing drama will leave audiences captivated and breathless.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
